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Overview

Synopsis

The greatest star, the ultimate people person... the story of beloved comedienne Fanny Brice begins with her irrepressible youth in New York’s Lower East Side, where the stage-struck teenager clowns her way through burlesque and vaudeville, with dreams of making it big despite the discouragement of her friends and neighbors, who tell her that she isn’t pretty enough for the stage. Fanny, with her powerhouse voice and incredible ambition, knows better. After meeting Nick Arnstein, a handsome and charismatic gambling man with a gentle side, Fanny immediately falls in love. And with her big break in the Ziegfeld Follies on the horizon, the stardom she has always longed for is within her grasp. Her only problem… the elusive Nick Arnstein, ignorant of her affection, is always leaving town on some “business” venture. After a romantic meeting in Baltimore, Nick and Fanny finally confess their feelings, and Fanny boldly abandons the Follies to follow Nick across the ocean. When Nick wins a bankroll, the newly-wealthy couple happily marry. No honeymoon lasts forever, though, and Fanny has to choose between the brilliant show business career she loves, or the adored husband who increasingly resents her success. A triumphant story of starry success and a bittersweet story of love, Jule Styne and Bob Merrill’s Funny Girl is a musical theatre classic which celebrates the exuberant and elegant flavor of Broadway in the 1910s and 20s and the comic genius of Fanny Brice and features such beloved songs as “People” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade”.

Show Information

Music
Jule Styne
Lyrics
Bob Merrill
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1964
Genres
Drama, Romance, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
1910s, 1920s, new york, lower east side, baltimore, long island
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen, Child, Early Teen Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Nick Arnstein

Lead

Male

Baritone

Fanny Brice

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Mrs. Brice

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Mrs. Strakosh

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Eddie Ryan

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Stage Director

Featured

Male

Spoken

Stage Director

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mr. Renaldi

Featured

Male

Spoken

Heckie

Featured

Male

Baritone

First Workman

Featured

Male

Spoken

Jenny

Featured

Female

Soprano

Tom Keeney

Featured

Male

Spoken

Second Workman

Featured

Male

Tenor, Bass

Snub Taylor

Featured

Male

Silent

Bubbles

Featured

Female

Spoken

Polly

Featured

Female

Spoken

Maude

Featured

Female

Spoken

Stage Director

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mimsey

Featured

Female

Spoken

Jody, Lead Ziegfeld Dancer

Featured

Male

Silent

Mr. Strakosh

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mrs. Nadler

Featured

Female

Spoken

Paul

Featured

Male

Spoken

Cathy

Featured

Female

Spoken

Vera

Featured

Female

Spoken

Ben

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mrs. Meeker

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Mrs. O'Malley

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Ziegfeld Tenor

Featured

Male

Tenor

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Ziegfeld Girls

Ensemble

Female

Soprano, Alto

Songs

Act One

  • "Overture" – Orchestra
  • "If a Girl Isn't Pretty" – Mrs. Strakosh, Mrs. Brice, Eddie Ryan and People
  • "I'm the Greatest Star" – Fanny Brice
  • "Cornet Man" – Fanny Brice, Snub Taylor and Keeney Chorus
  • "Who Taught Her Everything?" – Mrs. Brice and Eddie Ryan
  • "His Love Makes Me Beautiful" – Ziegfeld Tenor, Ziegfeld Girls and Fanny Brice
  • "I Want to Be Seen With You Tonight" – Nick Arnstein and Fanny Brice
  • "Henry Street" – Henry Street Neighbors
  • "People" – Fanny Brice
  • "You Are Woman" – Nick Arnstein and Fanny Brice
  • "Don't Rain on My Parade" – Fanny Brice

Act Two

  • "Sadie, Sadie, Married Lady" – Fanny Brice and Friends
  • "Find Yourself a Man" – Mrs. Strakosh, Mrs. Brice and Eddie Ryan
  • "Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat" –Ziegfeld Company and Fanny Brice
  • "Who Are You Now?" –Fanny Brice
  • "The Music That Makes Me Dance" – Fanny Brice
  • "Don't Rain on My Parade" (Reprise) – Fanny Brice

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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